Putin attacks Georgia ‘blackmail’

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President Putin accused Georgia of blackmail yesterday as a wave of police raids in Moscow hit businesses owned by Georgians in apparent revenge for the arrest of four alleged spies.

The espionage dispute has plunged relations into crisis, despite President Saakashvili’s decision on Monday to release the four military officers and expel them from Georgia.

At a meeting in the Kremlin with parliamentary leaders, Mr Putin said: “I would not advise anyone to speak with Russia in the future using the language of provocation and blackmail.” The State duma, the lower house of parliament, later condemned Georgia’s Government as “anti-Russian”